ELMER JOHN PETERSON

Elmer John Peterson gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. July 7, 1913 in Marathon County, WI
M. WW II Army Veteran (May 6, 1942-December 23, 1945), Sergeant; 527 AAA AW BN CAC
D. June 5, 1971
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

  • Father: Andrew Peterson born June 1, 1873 in Norway; married Julia Isakson on September 25, 1897 in Kankakee County, IL; Andrew died April 11, 1947 in Elderon, Marathon County, WI; buried in Evergreen Rest Cemetery, Elderon, Marathon County, WI
  • Mother: Julia (Isakson/Isaacson) Peterson born December 13, 1873 in Norway; died October 16, 1957 in Wausau, Marathon County, WI; buried in Evergreen Rest Cemetery, Elderon, Marathon County, WI

According to the Stevens Point Journal (Stevens Point WI) Friday, October 18, 1957, page 8:

“Mrs. Julia Peterson – Mrs. Julia Peterson, 83, Town of Elderon (Marathon County), a former Rosholt resident, died Wednesday at a Wausau hospital.  She had been ill about three months.  Mrs. Peterson, the former Julia Isaacson, was born in Norway Dec. 13, 1873, and came to the United States in 1891, settling in Merrill.  She was married Sept. 25, 1897, in Kankakee, Ill., to Andrew Peterson.  They lived in Kankakee for four years, in Rosholt eight years and then in Merrill until 1916, when they moved to the Town of Elderon.  Mr. Peterson died in 1947.  Mrs. Peterson was a member of the Ladies Aid Society of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Elderon.  She is survived by three daughters and three sons, Mrs. Henry Laabs and Mrs. Elmer Goetch, Merrill, Mrs. Erwin Porath, Batavia, Ill., Peter Peterson, Schofield, Elmer Peterson, Grayslake, Ill., and Elroy Peterson, Town of Elderon; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Bertina Olson, Elderon.  Funeral services will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Our Savior’s Church.  The Rev. Eugene Peterson will officiate, and burial will be in Evergreen Rest Cemetery, Elderon.  The body is at the Schmidt Funeral Home, Writtenberg”

  • Siblings:
    • Anna (Peterson) Johnson born July 1898 in Kankaee County, IL; married Albert Johnson (1892-1982) on November 10, 1923 in Rosholt, Portage County, WI son of Gilbert Johnson and Carrie (Olson) Johnson, a U.S. Army WW I Veteran; Anna died November 10, 1952 in Wausau, Marthon County, WI; Anna and Albert are buried in Evergreen Rest Cemetery, Elderon, Marathon County, IL

According to the Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau WI) Tuesday, November 11, 1952, page 4:

“Mrs. Albert Johnson – Mrs. Albert Johnson, 54, Town of Elderon, died at 9:50 o’clock last night at a Wausau hospital after three weeks’ illness.  Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the Downing Funeral Chapel in Wittenberg and at 2 o’clock at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Elderon.  The Rev. Leon Holm will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Rest Cemetery at Elderon.  The body will be at the funeral home tomorrow evening.  Anna Peterson was born July 29, 1898, in Kankakee, Ill., and married Albert Johnson on Nov. 10, 1923, in Rosholt, her death having occurred on her wedding anniversary.  She was a resident of the Elderon-Wittenberg area for 36 years.  Surviving are the widower; two sons, Gerhard Johnson, 311 Humboldt Ave., and Elroy Johnson, 216½ Broadway; two daughters, Miss Carol Johnson, Milwaukee, and Miss Alice Johnson, at home;  her mother, Mrs. Andrew Peterson, Town of Elderon; three sisters, Mrs. Elmer Goetsch and Mrs. Henry Laabs, Merrill, and Mrs. Erwin Porath, Batavia, Ill.; three brothers, Peter Peterson, Schofield, Elmer Peterson, Grayslake, Ill., and Elroy Peterson, Town of Elderon, and two grandchildren.”

    • Sophia Amanda (Peterson) Laabs born May 9, 1900 in Waukegan, Lake County, IL; married Henry Bernard Laabs (1904-1993) on May 9, 1925 in Wittenberg, Shawano County, WI, son of Bernard Laabs and Anna (Stern) Laabs; Sophia died January 29, 1976 in Merrill, Lincoln County WI; Henry married (2) Hilda Woller Raasch on December 11, 1976; Sophia and Henry are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Taegesville, Marathon County, WI

According to the Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau WI) Thursday, January 29, 1976, page 16:

“Mrs. Henry Laabs – Mrs. Henry Laabs, 75, Merrill Route 5, died at 7:15 a.m. today at a Merrill hospital.  Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Faith Lutheran Church, Town of Maine.  Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Town of Maine.  Friends may call at Taylor Funeral Home in Merrill from 2 p.m. Sunday until 10 a.m. Monday and at the church from 11 a.m. Monday until the funeral hour.  The former Sophia Peterson was born May 9, 1900, in Waukegan, Ill.  She was married at Wittenberg on May 9, 1925, to Henry Laabs, who survives.  She has resided in the Town of Maine since 1928.  Mrs. Laabs was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, a member of the Ladies Aid and its secretary for 32 years.  Surviving besides her husband are a daughter, Mrs. Milton Lewis, Los Angeles, Calif.; a son, LeRoy, Merrill Route 5; two brothers, Elroy Peterson, Eland, and Peter Peterson, 608 Moreland Ave., Schofield; two sisters, Mrs. Alma Goetsch, Colonial Manor, Wausau, and Mrs. Ervin Porath, Batavia, Ill.; and three grandchildren.”

    • Peder “Peter” Peterson born December 9, 1902 in Rosholt, Portage Couty, WI; married Evelyn Espeland (1903-1984) on December 29, 1927 in Mott, Hettinger County, ND; Peter died October 5, 1985 in Wausau, Marathon County, WI; Peter and Evelyn are buried in Evergreen Rest Cemetery, Elderaon, Marathon County, WI

According to the Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau WI) Sunday, October 6, 1985, page 26:

“Peter Peterson – Peter Peterson, 82, 608 Moreland Ave., Schofield, died Saturday morning at the Wausau Hospital Center.  He was born in Rosholt on Dec. 9, 1902, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Peterson.  He married Evelyn Espeland on Dec. 29, 1927 in Mott, North Dakota.  She died November 1984.  He had worked more than 40 years at Anderson Brothers and Johnson Monument Co. as a blacksmith.  Survivors include a daughter, LaDonna Soukup, 604 Moreland Ave., Schofield; a brother, Elroy Peterson, Elderon; two sisters, Mrs. Erwin (Agnes) Porath, Batavia, Ill., and Mrs. Elmer (Alma) Goetsch, Wausau; three grandchildren and a great grandchild.  Servies will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Wausau.  Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Hayden Funeral Home, Schofield, and again on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until services at the church.  Burial will be in Evergreen Rest Cemetery, town of Elderon.  The Rev. Kenneth Melby will officiate.”

    • Alma Elvina (Peterson) Goetsch born July 20, 1904 in RosholtAlban, Portage County, WI; married Elmer Albert Heinrich Goetsch (1902-1962) on June 17, 1926; Alma died August 13, 1986 in Wausau, Marathon County, WI; Alma and Elmer are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Taegesville, Marathon County, WI

According to the Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau WI) Thursday, August 14, 1986, page 21:

“Alma E. Goetsch – Alma E. Goetsch, 82, town of Maine, died in a local nursing home Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1986.  The former Alma Peterson was born July 20, 1904, in Rosholt, daughter of Andrew and Julia Peterson.  She married Elmer A. Goetsch, June 17, 1926.  He died Oct. 13, 1962.  Mrs. Goetsch was a rural school teacher before her marriage.  She was a member of the Ladies Aid and choir of Faith Lutheran Church.  She enjoyed gardening and needlework.  Survivors include two sons, James and Kenneth, town of Maine; a daughter, Mrs. Lester (Delores) Rusch, Wausau; a sister, Mrs. Erwin (Agnes) Porath, Batavia, Ill.’ a brother, Elroy Peterson, Elderon; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.  Two brother and two sisters died earlier.  Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church, Highway K.  The Rev. Donald McDermott will officiate, and burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, town of Maine.  Friends may call after 4 p.m. Friday at Helke West Chapel, Wausau, where there will be a prayer service at 8:30 p.m. Friday.  There will be visitation at the church from 0 a.m. Saturday until time of services.”

    • Agnes Josephine (Peterson) Porath born May 31, 1908 in Alban, Portage County, WI; married Erwin Wilhelm August Porath (1902-1994) on August 4, 1928 in Wittenberg, Shawano County, WI; Agnes died September 24, 1997 in Wausau, Marathon County, WI; Agnes and Erwin are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Taegesville, Marathon County, WI

According to the Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau WI) Thursday, September 25, 1997, page 9:

“Agnes J. Porath – Agnes J. Porath, 89, of Wittenberg, a former town of Elderon resident, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997, at Wausau Hospital.  She was born May 31, 1908, in the township of Alban, Portage County, the daughter of the late Andrew and Julia (Isakson) Peterson.  On Aug. 4, 1928, in Wittenberg, she married Erwin Porath.  He preceded her in death Oct. 30, 1994.  After marriage the couples resided in the town of Maine, until 1945 when they moved to Batavia, Ill., and resided there until 1992 when they returned to the town of Elderon.  Agnes was an active member in the Lutheran Church, Wittenberg.  Survivors included one daughter, Arlene (James) Vanderhei, town of Elderon; three grandchildren, Kurt Vanderhei, Joe Marie (James) Hoholik and Larry (Sharon) Vanderhei, all of Illinois; six great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Bernard (Margarete) Porath, Irving, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one daughter, one son, three sisters and three brothers.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 1997, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wittenberg.  The Rev. Philip Peterson will officiate.  Interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, town of Maine, Marathon County.  Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Schmidt-Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg, and again from 10 a.m. Saturday until the time of the services at the church.  Agnes enjoyed many hours of volunteer work and was very active in church work through the years.  Her love of flowers and gardening plus sewing were her interests in life.  She always had a smile and a sense of humor, even through many illnesses in her lifetime.  Agnes was a special person to many people and will be sadly missed.”

    • Elroy Edward Peterson born December 11, 1917 in Elderon, Marathon County WI; Elroy died January 2, 1992 in Eland, Shawano County, WI; buried in Evergreen Rest Cemetery, Elderon Marathon County, WI

According to the Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home obituary:

“Elroy Edward Peterson, age 74, Eland, town of Elderon, died Thursday, January 2, 1992 at his home.  He was born December 11, 1917 in the town of Elderon, the son of the late Andrew and Julia (Isakson) Peterson.  On November 23, 1940 Elroy was united in marriage to Viola Hegewald in Maquoketa, IA. She preceded him in death on December 9, 1978.  Survivors include one son, Andrew (Mary) Peterson, town of Elderon; one daughter, Judy (Roy) Schmidt, Birnamwood; four grandchildren, Lance and Jodi Schmidt, Tracy and Chad Peterson; and one sister, Agnes (Erwin) Porath, Batavia, IL.  In addition to his wife and parents, Elroy was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.  Funeral services were held January 4, 1992 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wittenberg. The Rev. Peter Gundersen officiated. Interment was in Evergreen Rest Cemetery, town of Elderon.”

Additional Information:

According to the 1920 U.S. Census for Elderon Town, Marathon County, WI the household residents were:

“Andrew Peterson, head, age 46, married, immigrated in 1893, naturalized in 1900, born in Norway, parents born in Norway, occupation: farmer; Julia Peterson, wife, age 46, married, immigrated in 1893, born in Norway, parents born in Norway; Anna Peterson, daughter, age 21, single, born in Illinois; Sophia Peterson, daughter, age 19, single, born in Illinois; Peter Peterson, son, age 17, single, born in  Wisconsin; Alma Peterson, daughter, age 15, single, born in Wisconsin; Agnes Peterson, daughter, age 11, single, born in Wisconsin; Elmer Peterson, son, age 6, single, born in Wisconsin; Elroy Peterson, son, age 2, single, born in Wisconsin”

According to the U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969; First Lutheran Church in Wittenberg, WI:

“(translated) – Confirmation date: 26th June 1927; Confirmant Name: Elmer John Peterson; Age: 14; Parents full name: Andrew and Julia Peterson; Where baptized: Merril, Wis; Christian knowledge: Very Good; Strangers: no”

According to the 1930 U.S. Census for Elderon Township, Marathon County, WI the household members were:

“Andrew Peterson, head, age 56, married first at age 20, born in Norway, parents born in Norway, immigrated in 1893, occupation: farmer – dairy farm; Julia Peterson, wife, age 56, married first at age 20, born in Norway, parents born in Norway, immigrated in 1893; Elmer J. Peterson, son, age 16, single, born in Wisconsin, occupation: laborer – dairy farm; Elroy E. Peterson, son, age 12, single, born in Wisconsin”

According to the 1940 U.S. Census for Elderon Town, Marathon County, WI the household members were:

“Andrew Peterson, head, age 66, married, highest grade completed: 8, born in Norway, lived in same house in 1935, occupation: farming – farm; Julia Peterson, wife, age 65, married, highest grade completed: 8, born in Norway, lived in same house in 1935, occupation: house wife – farm home; Elmer Peterson, son, age 26, single, highest grade completed: 8, born in Wisconsin, lived in same house in 1935, occupation: laborer – paper mill; Elroy Peterson, son, age 22, single, highest grade completed: 8, born in Wisconsin, lived in same house in 1935, occupation: laborer – home farm”

According to the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947:

“Name: Elmer Johan Peterson; Address: R.F.D. #1, Eland, Shawano County, Wisconsin; Telephone: none; Age in Years: 27; Date of Birth: July 7, 1913; Place of Birth: Marathon Co., Wisconsin; Country of Citizenship: American; Name of Person who will Always know your Address: Mr. Andrew Peterson; Relationship of That Person: Father: Address of That Person: R.F.D. #1, Eland, Shawano, Wisconsin; Employer’s Name: Andrew Peterson; Place of Employment: R. F. D. #1, Eland, Shawano, Wisconsin; Race: White; Height: 6′ 1″; Weight: 172; Eyes: Blue; Hair: Blonde; Complexion: Light; Signed: October 16, 1940”

According to the U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946:

“Name: Elmer J Peterson; Race: White; Marital status: Single, without dependents (Single); Rank: Private; Birth Year: 1913; Nativity State or Country: Wisconsin; Citizenship: Citizen; Residence: Marathon, Wisconsin; Education: Grammar school; Civil Occupation: Carpenters; Enlistment Date: 6 May 1942; Enlistment Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Service Number: 36224982; Branch: Branch Immaterial – warrant Officers, USA; Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men); Source: Civil Life; Height: 77; Weight: 165”.

According  to the Wausau Daily Herald (Wausaw WI) Thursday, December 2, 1954, page 22:

“ELDERON

   Elmer Peterson, Gray’s Lake, Ill., and Mrs. Erwin Porath, Batavia, Ill., visited their mother, Mrs. Julia Peterson, who is ill with pneumonia, at the Elroy Peterson home last week.”

According to the U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010:

“Name: Elmer Peterson; Gender: Male; Birth Date: 7 Jul 1913; Death Date: 5 Jun 1971; SSN: 393076883; Branch 1: ARMY; Enlistment Date 1: 6 May 1942; Release Date: 1: 23 Dec 1945”